Under the Tulip Tree

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the story follows sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland as she navigates personal and familial struggles after her dreams of becoming a writer are shattered. With her father succumbing to alcoholism and her sister's poor marriage, Rena finds herself working for the Federal Writers' Project. In this role, she interviews former slaves and becomes deeply inspired by the life story of Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old woman whose poignant experiences resonate with Rena's own aspirations and challenges.